A project to maximise the potential of space activities in the Czech Republic has started24/7/2024|Press releasesThe long-term project "Czech Journey to Space" aims to contribute to the transformation of the Czech economy into an economy based on high added value activities through space activities and their further development. The government supported the project at its last meeting. "The space industry is one of the most advanced sectors of the economy. It is an industry that brings a great deal of innovation and connects a wide range of scientific and technical disciplines. But it needs enough qualified and motivated people all the more. We will continue to support the development of the Czech space industry, science and research, especially through strategic and ambitious projects and cooperation with the European Space Agency," said prime minister Petr Fiala. Thanks to its membership of the European Space Agency (ESA), the Czech Republic has built on the excellent results of decades of work by Czech scientists and engineers and, unlike many other countries, quickly managed to transform space activities from a purely scientific discipline into a new economic sector. However, to maximise the potential of space activities, we need to accelerate their development in the Czech Republic. Therefore, we need to systematically build together a supportive ecosystem with an emphasis on inspiring, motivating and educating children, pupils and students in predominantly technical fields and preparing them for highly qualified work in Czech industry and science. The "Czech Journey to Space" project aims to do just that. "To achieve our goals and motivate young people, we want to take advantage of the success of Aleš Svoboda, who was selected for the ESA astronaut backup team, and go even further: to successfully complete the project of the first Czech astronaut within five years and send him into space with scientific experiments," says transport minister Martin Kupka. "For all of us, the selection of a Czech citizen is an achievement that we want to take advantage of," said defence minister Jana Černochová, adding: "It is an investment not only in our technological future, but also in our defence which actually makes very substantial use of the technologies that space exploration has helped to bring about. This is why we need to develop competent professionals in many different professions in this area as well. The astronaut is, like the pilot, “just” the most visible figure on the team." The space industry is booming in the Czech Republic During the last 15 years the Czech Republic has managed to build up its aerospace industry and integrate it into international supply chains. We currently have over 150 established companies, start-ups and academic institutions active and successful in space activities, and this number continues to grow rapidly. "We need to invest in the industry, so that we gradually change from a producer of parts and components into a country that not only has original ideas but can also take them to implementation. We want to invest effectively in the education of people who must feel that the Czech Republic cares about their skills and can use them on the most ambitious projects. We will all benefit from all this," emphasises Zdeněk Zajíček, President of the Czech Chamber of Commerce. Czech companies as well as the academic sphere have however long been facing a severe shortage of experts. The share of industry in the Czech Republic's GDP has always been one of the highest in Europe, but the number of students in STEM fields is still low despite all previously introduced and time-tested measures. Drastic measures are therefore needed to reverse this trend. "The Czech Republic has not only become a leader among the “new” ESA member states but is catching up with and even surpassing many Western countries. Theemphasis on educating children, pupils and students and preparing them for skilled work in Czech industry and science must pay off, because such educated, trained and skilled workers are needed not only in the field of space activities but in all sectors of the economy," says project coordinator Václav Kobera. The journey to space will be accompanied by technological and scientific experiments. The most important part of the flight will be technological and scientific experiments of Czech industry and science. The manned flight of a Czech citizen will allow experiments to be carried out more efficiently and especially earlier than through the standard ESA process where Czech companies would otherwise face competition from other European groups, which often many years ahead in using the ISS. "The average return on investment in space activities in developed countries is eight times the amount invested. Space activities will be popularised thanks to the participation of a Czech astronaut in scientific experiments in space," says the director of the Brno Observatory and Planetarium and Senator Jiří Dušek. Hundreds of millions of Czech crowns will be needed for preparing the flight programme, including the design and production of hardware and software experiments. Additional funds represent costs paid through ESA that would cover the contractual and organisational support for the experiments and flight, in particular the personnel costs for technical quality assurance in the production of the experiments in the Czech Republic, coordination of flight plans, logistics of the experiments, operational management during the flight and astronaut training. What will this bring Inspiration and motivation: Increased interest in the study of technical or scientific disciplines key to the development of the Czech economy. Creating positive role models: An astronaut is the embodiment of positive values and an investment in the space flight is an investment in these values. Industrial and scientific excellence: Preparation and possibility to conduct experiments by Czech scientists and engineers. In a national mission the experiments would be carried out several years earlier than through the standard ESA process. International cooperation: Other countries can participate in the preparation of Czech experiments, which will open the door for the Czech Republic to collaborate on their experiments. Strengthening awareness of the benefits of space activities and the significant achievements of the Czech Republic in its modern history. Brand of the Czech Republic's Army: The astronaut-soldier will help build the brand of the Czech Army as a modern and progressive armed force and will inspire people to join the Czech Army or the active reserves. ESA Education Office in the Czech Republic – ESERO The space ambitions of the Czech Republic are great, given the achievements to date and the huge potential of space activities. Developments around the world are increasingly showing us that we are moving in the right direction and that long-term, concentrated efforts and cooperation are paying off. Therefore, we must find together a way to motivate the young generation to study engineering and science. One of the tools that should be used as much as possible for this purpose and linked to other educational and popularisation activities is the ESA's European Space Education Resource Office (ESERO). Its main goal is to use the inspirational nature of space to increase the scientific and technical literacy of primary and secondary school students and motivate them to pursue studies and careers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics. Context The first Czech astronaut (the term “cosmonaut” at the time) was Vladimír Remek who became the first person in space 46 years ago (in March 1978) who did not come from the United States of America or the Soviet Union. Choreographer Yemi Akinyemi Dele was to become the next Czech person in space in 2023 as part of the private initiative dearMoon. Due to repeated technical delays and delays in the preparation of the spacecraft, its flight was officially cancelled in June 2024. Both of these personalities fully support the project of the second Czech astronaut's flight. The Czech Republic's interest in sending a backup astronaut into space is similar to that of other countries that recognise the significant potential of this flight for their future. Sweden has already sent a backup astronaut to the International Space Station (ISS) this year through ESA. Similarly, Poland also decided to send a backup astronaut to the ISS. Other countries such as Austria and Spain are currently negotiating with ESA about the use of their backup astronaut. Hungary is building its own astronautics programme. AV materials You will find the countdown, video, press kit and other materials for publication at www.vzhurudovesmiru.cz. The countdown ends on 2 September 2024 at 8.00 A.M. when further details of the initiative will be published.